Secular Weddings in Canada: An Examination of a Humanist Response to the Evolution of Marriage

Lloyd Hawkeye Robertson

doi:10.5334/snr.76

Abstract

Despite increasing societal secularization, little research has been undertaken on the needs of non-religious people to engage in marriage ceremony or the means by which such needs are met. Using a jurisdictional scan, focus groups, and an on-line survey, this exploratory survey examines the provision for and use of secular legal marriage in Canada’s regions from a humanist perspective. It is postulated that marriage ceremonies have persisted among the non-religious due to needs to authenticate or recognize transitional changes to the self, but these needs have been met through ad hoc strategies as opposed to a uniform demand for humanist services. Implications for humanist organizations are discussed along with recommendations for further research.

Highlights

Despite increasing societal secularization, little research has been undertaken on the needs of non-religious people to engage in marriage ceremony or the means by which such needs are met
The lack of participation by several invited humanist organizations may indicate a division within the movement on this issue that was masked by the self-selection process used
The Humanist Response to Marriage in Canada The participants in this research agreed that humanism represents a distinct philosophy encompassing secularism, equality and diversity; and a majority (68% of survey respondents) volunteered that humanist officiants should not be compelled to conduct ceremonies that are not in accord with that philosophy

Summary

Introduction

Little research has been undertaken on the needs of non-religious people to engage in marriage ceremony or the means by which such needs are met. Using a jurisdictional scan, focus groups, and an on-line survey, this exploratory survey examines the provision for and use of secular legal marriage in Canada’s regions from a humanist perspective. While humanist organizations legally solemnize weddings in at least eight industrialized countries worldwide, this service is available in only one Canadian province despite nearly a quarter of the Canadian population (23.9%) selfidentifying as non-religious (StatisticsCanada, 2011). Becker (1973) demonstrated that economically such a man and woman both gained from marrying as compared to remaining single, the 1960s Women’s Liberation Movement viewed such marriage as a mechanism for the oppression of women (Carbone & Brinig, 1990; Ferree, 1990; Mohr, 1984). Laws were passed in all Canadian jurisdictions during the 1970s prohibiting discrimination in education and employment on the basis of one’s sex and affirmative action programs were implemented to ensure women had the opportunity to access career opportunities formerly dominated by men

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Conclusion